Health & Fitness

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Explore the technical aspects of health and fitness features, including sensor data acquisition, health data processing, and integration with the HealthKit framework.

Health & Fitness Documentation

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HealthKit - HKWorkoutRouteBuilder never returns from insert when created from newly added iOS HKLiveWorkoutBuilder API on Simulator
Has anyone had success using the HKWorkoutRouteBuilder in conjunction with the new iOS support for HKLiveWorkoutBuilder? I was running my watchOS code that worked now brought over to iOS and when I call insertRouteData the function never returns. This happens for both the legacy and closure based block patterns. private var workoutSession: HKWorkoutSession? private var workoutBuilder: HKLiveWorkoutBuilder? private var serviceSession: CLServiceSession? private var workoutRouteBuilder: HKWorkoutRouteBuilder? private func startRouteBuilder() { Task { @MainActor in self.serviceSession = CLServiceSession(authorization: .whenInUse) self.workoutRouteBuilder = self.workoutBuilder?.seriesBuilder(for: .workoutRoute()) as? HKWorkoutRouteBuilder self.locationUpdateTask = Task { do { for try await update in CLLocationUpdate.liveUpdates(.fitness) { if let location = update.location { self.logger.notice(#function, metadata: [ "location": .stringConvertible(location) ]) try await self.workoutRouteBuilder?.insertRouteData([location]) self.logger.notice("Added location") } } } catch { self.logger.error(#function, metadata: [ "error": .stringConvertible(error.localizedDescription) ]) } } } } I did also try CLLocationManager API with delegate which is what my current watch code uses (a bit old). Same issue. Here is what I've found so far: If the workout session is not running, and if the builder hasn't started collection yet, inserting route data works just fine I've tried different swift language modes, flipped from main actor to non isolated project settings (Xcode 26) Modified Apple's sample code and added location route building to that and reproduced the error, modified sample attached to feedback This issue was identified against Xcode 26 beta 2 and iPhone 16 Pro simulator. Works as expected on my iPhone 13 Pro beta 2. FB18603581 - HealthKit: HKWorkoutRouteBuilder insert call within CLLocationUpdate task never returns
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201
Jul ’25
Some swimming activities are not fetched by combined predicate
I'm using following filters to fetch swimming activities from HealthKit. For some users it fetches all workouts (pool && open water) but for other it skips some open water activities. See screenshot, all those swimming activities are not fetched by following code. let startDate = Calendar.current.date(byAdding: .month, value: -1, to: Date())! let endDate = Date() let swimmingPredicate = HKQuery.predicateForWorkouts(with: .swimming) let timePredicate = HKQuery.predicateForSamples(withStart: startDate, end: endDate, options: .strictStartDate) let predicate = NSCompoundPredicate(andPredicateWithSubpredicates: [swimmingPredicate, timePredicate]) let query = HKSampleQuery(sampleType: .workoutType(), predicate: predicate, limit: HKObjectQueryNoLimit, sortDescriptors: [.init(keyPath: \HKSample.startDate, ascending: false)], resultsHandler: { [weak self] query, samples, error in ... Could someone help with ideads what is missing in this case?
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73
Jul ’25
HKLiveWorkoutBuilder get wrong calorie data for iOS 26
In iOS 26, HKLiveWorkoutBuilder is supported, which we can use like HKWorkoutSession in watchOS - this is very exciting. However, it currently seems to have a bug in calculating calories. I tested it in my app, and for nearly 6 minutes with an average heart rate of 134, it only calculated 8 calories consumed (80 calories per hour), including basal consumption, which is obviously incorrect. (I used Powerboats Pro 2 connected to my phone, which includes heart rate data, and HKLiveWorkoutBuilder correctly collected the heart rate, which is great.) I think my code is correct. func workoutBuilder(_ workoutBuilder: HKLiveWorkoutBuilder, didCollectDataOf collectedTypes: Set<HKSampleType>) { for type in collectedTypes { guard let quantityType = type as? HKQuantityType else { return // Nothing to do. } let statistics = workoutBuilder.statistics(for: quantityType) if let statistics = statistics { switch statistics.quantityType { case HKQuantityType.quantityType(forIdentifier: .heartRate): /// - Tag: SetLabel let heartRateUnit = HKUnit.count().unitDivided(by: HKUnit.minute()) let value = statistics.mostRecentQuantity()?.doubleValue(for: heartRateUnit) let roundedValue = Double( round( 1 * value! ) / 1 ) if let avg = statistics.averageQuantity()?.doubleValue(for: heartRateUnit) { self.avgHeartRate = avg } self.delegate?.didUpdateHeartBeat(self, heartBeat: Int(roundedValue)) case HKQuantityType.quantityType(forIdentifier: .activeEnergyBurned): let energyUnit = HKUnit.kilocalorie() let value = statistics.sumQuantity()?.doubleValue(for: energyUnit) self.totalActiveEnergyBurned = Double(value!) print("didUpdate totalActiveEnergyBurned: \(self.totalActiveEnergyBurned)") self.delegate?.didUpdateEnergyBurned(self, totalEnergy: self.totalActiveEnergyBurned + self.totalBasalEneryBurned) return case HKQuantityType.quantityType(forIdentifier: .basalEnergyBurned): let energyUnit = HKUnit.kilocalorie() let value = statistics.sumQuantity()?.doubleValue(for: energyUnit) self.totalBasalEneryBurned = Double(value!) print("didUpdate totalBasalEneryBurned: \(self.totalBasalEneryBurned)") self.delegate?.didUpdateEnergyBurned(self, totalEnergy: self.totalActiveEnergyBurned + self.totalBasalEneryBurned) return default: print("unhandled quantityType=\(statistics.quantityType) when processing statistics") return } } I think I've found the source of the problem: let workoutConfiguration = HKWorkoutConfiguration() workoutConfiguration.activityType = .traditionalStrengthTraining //walking, running is ok workoutConfiguration.locationType = .outdoor When I set the activityType to walking or running, the calorie results are correct, showing several hundred calories per hour. However, when activityType is set to traditionalStrengthTraining or jumprope, the calculations are incorrect. PS: I'm currently using Xcode 26 beta3 and iOS 26 beta3. Hope this issue can be resolved. Thanks.
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Jul ’25
Tax Category
Hi, My app concept features various sections; a) Personal development section: featuring exercises and guides, b) Coaches section: featuring coaching sessions offering virtual or in-person sessions related to yoga, fitness, lifestyle etc. (marketplace for coaches). c) Events section: hosting virtual or in-person events. Hence which "tax category" should I be selecting? Thanks, Gavin
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40
Aug ’25
Is it possible to get Workout intervals and data from third party app via HealthKit or WorkoutKit?
If a user selects custom structured workout in the apple watch Workout app and records a run with intervals, how can my third party app pull in that data? I can obviously get the workout and health stuff like heart rate, but I cannot find how to save the intervals and the relevant data. The workout events are not seemingly helpful - segments are not obviously related to this. Is it possible? Is it only possible to have the third party app create a customworkout with metadata and then our third party app parses the interval distance/time based on our own structure? I think this stuff should be able to be accessed.
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258
Aug ’25
What determines which suggested apps are listed in Health?
Hello - I'm wondering about the suggested apps listed by Apple in their Health app. For example, if you select the "Sleep" category there are a bunch of suggested apps like AutoSleep and Sleepzy. These are not Sleep apps that I installed on my own phone or ever shared sleep data with. Is there a way to request to have a relevant app shown there? Or is it more automatic, like you're an app that integrates with HealthKit in certain ways and Apple has a way of determining that app is suitable for the user (ex. App Store popularity, user behavior, etc.)
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143
Sep ’25
How to accurately query HKWorkout segment data
Hello, In my application, I need to obtain precise workout segment data from HKWorkout in order to calculate per-kilometer metrics such as heart rate and pace. My current approach is: 1.Use HKWorkout to fetch the associated HKWorkoutEvents. 2.Take the end time of one event as the start time of the next event to derive per-kilometer segment ranges. The issue I’m facing: •If a user sets Apple Watch to notify every 5 kilometers, then at 5 km, 10 km, 15 km, etc., I see overlapping event times. •From the HKWorkoutEvents data alone, I cannot distinguish between events that represent “per-kilometer splits” and those that represent “5-kilometer notifications.” •As a result, my per-kilometer heart rate and pace calculations can be inaccurate. My question is: Is there a recommended way to reliably differentiate per-kilometer splits from custom distance notifications and ensure accurate segment data retrieval? For example, should I instead reconstruct segments using HKWorkoutRoute and distance samples, rather than relying on HKWorkoutEvents? STEPS TO REPRODUCE 1.On Apple Watch, start an Outdoor Run using the Workout app. 2.In workout notifications, set distance alerts to every 5 kilometers. 3.During the run, when reaching 5 km, 10 km, 15 km, etc., the watch triggers notifications. 4.Query the corresponding HKWorkout from HealthKit and inspect its HKWorkoutEvents. 5.Notice that some event start times are duplicated, and it is unclear which events represent “per-kilometer splits” and which represent “5-kilometer notifications.” Expected Result: Be able to differentiate between per-kilometer splits and custom distance alerts, so that heart rate and pace per kilometer can be calculated accurately. Actual Result: The HKWorkoutEvents data contains duplicated event times without a way to distinguish event types, leading to inaccurate per-kilometer statistics.
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Oct ’25
watchOS: CoreMotion data, Watch goes to sleep and disconnects during tests
Hello, I am working on a Iphone app and companion Watch app that prompts the user to go through a few activities like walk, sit, etc and collects the CoreMotion data from the Watch. The phone app coordinates the actions and sends a command to the watch to start/stop the measurement. My problem is that the Watch keeps on disconnecting after a few seconds and that is messing up the data collection. Is there a way to keep the watch awake and not sleep during the duration of these tests? I also used a HealthKit session to try and keep the watch awake and measuring.. but none of these methods are reliable.. Can you please suggest how to keep the watch and phone connected and awake during the data collection? (The whole test takes about 4-5 minutes).. I have spent many days on this problem.
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Oct ’25
Feature Request: Expand HealthKit Body Composition Data Types to Support Smart Body Scanning Scales
Summary: Expanding HealthKit to support the full spectrum of smart scale metrics will allow Apple Health to remain the central hub for health data, align with user expectations, and future-proof the framework as body composition analysis evolves. Description: With the growing adoption of smart body composition scales (e.g. segmental impedance scanners, multi-frequency analyzers, and body pods), users are generating a wide variety of clinically relevant metrics that currently cannot be stored natively in HealthKit. At present, HealthKit supports a core set of body composition values (Body Mass, BMI, Body Fat %, Lean Mass, Height, Waist Circumference). While useful, these do not capture the full picture modern devices provide, leading to fragmentation: • Users can see dozens of metrics in the device app, but only a handful flow into Health. • Developers must resort to metadata fields, which are inconsistent across apps and not accessible in Apple’s Health app UI. This gap undermines HealthKit’s role as a central, standardized health record. ⸻ Proposed Additions: Expand HealthKit HKQuantityTypeIdentifier to include additional body composition and derived measurements commonly reported by smart scales: Core Body Composition • Visceral fat percentage / rating • Skeletal muscle mass • Segmental muscle mass (arms, legs, trunk) • Segmental fat mass (arms, legs, trunk) • Bone mineral mass • Total body water % / hydration Derived Health Metrics • Muscle-to-fat ratio • Phase angle (bioelectrical impedance) • Metabolic age • Basal metabolic rate (BMR) ⸻ Rationale: • User benefit: Health app would show a more complete health profile, not just weight and fat %. • Developer benefit: Creates standardized identifiers, eliminating the need for proprietary storage in metadata. • Industry alignment: Many leading health devices already provide these metrics; users expect them to sync into Health. • Future-proofing: As body scanning scales proliferate, HealthKit can remain the trusted central repository rather than ceding ground to siloed vendor apps. ⸻ Suggested Implementation: • Introduce new HKQuantityTypeIdentifier values for each metric. • Permit segmental values to be represented as discrete samples with metadata for body region. • Ensure values can be written by apps/devices and surfaced in Health app UI, just like existing body composition data.
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175
Oct ’25
Apple Watch Ultra exercise app and activity rings won’t connect after charging
Since upgrading to iOS 26 beta on my Apple Watch Ultra and iPhone 16 Pro Max, my exercise app and activity rings have sporadically not connected after charging. Several recent mornings, when I’ve put my watch on, the activity rings are grayed out and when I click on them, they will show no activity, even though I have been active. Similarly, when I attempt to select the activity app, it will open, but when I select an activity, it will not start the workout. I’ve tried starting and restarting the watch and phone. I’ve checked permissions, and both the watch and phone are running the latest iOS. The only fix seems to be unpairing and repairing the watch and phone which is an absolute pain. Any assistance on how to permanently fix this would be greatly appreciated.
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159
Oct ’25
Unable to read HealthKit data on watchos26 while app is in the background
Hello, My watchOS app has been performing fine by requesting background app refresh and then requesting any new data from health kit in the background so that the widget can be updated. However, on watchos26 I have been unable to read data in the background, with any query returning zero results. That same data is clearly read just fine while in the foreground. Can anyone assist?
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193
Oct ’25
Unable to receive HealthKit updates when app is force-quit — need clarification on background delivery limits
Hello, I’m developing a HealthKit-based fitness app in React Native that observes step count changes and uploads the latest totals to a remote server. I’m currently using HKObserverQuery with background delivery enabled (enableBackgroundDelivery(for:frequency:.immediate)), and the behavior works correctly while the app is running in the background or foreground. Whenever new step data is written to HealthKit, the app wakes up, reads the latest data, and sends it to my HTTPS endpoint using URLSession.shared.dataTask inside the observer callback. However, I’ve noticed the following issue: 1. If the user swipes up (force-quits) the app from the app switcher, the observer queries stop firing entirely. 2. In this state, even though HealthKit continues collecting step data from the device or Apple Watch, my app no longer receives those background deliveries until the user opens the app again. What I would like to achieve is: When the app is terminated (swiped up), and there are new step count updates in HealthKit, my app should still be able to receive those updates or be relaunched to handle them — similar to how some health companion apps continue syncing data and sending notifications even after being force-quit. So I have a few questions: Is this limitation expected — i.e., does iOS intentionally block HKObserverQuery background deliveries after a user force-quits the app? 2. Are there any special entitlements, background modes, or Apple-approved mechanisms that allow a health or medical app to continue receiving HealthKit changes even after a force-quit? 3. If not, what is the recommended architecture for apps that need to process HealthKit data continuously and send it to a backend server? For example, should such apps rely on server-side push notifications or CloudKit sync once the user reopens the app? My current goal is to ensure step count changes are uploaded reliably even if the app is killed, but I want to stay within the system’s supported behaviors and privacy constraints. Any clarification or guidance from Apple engineers or others who have implemented continuous HealthKit sync (like companion or medical apps) would be greatly appreciated. Thank you.
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Oct ’25
watchOS 26.0.2+ Health Data Sync Failure - Series 7 - FB20533870
I'm reporting a critical Health data synchronization failure that began immediately after updating from watchOS 18 to watchOS 26.0.2 (stable release) and persists in watchOS 26.1 beta 2. Bug Description: Complete failure of Health data sync from Apple Watch to iPhone Health app. All health metrics are being captured and stored locally on the watch but fail to sync to the paired iPhone. Affected Data Types: Activity rings (Move, Exercise, Stand) Heart rate measurements Sleep tracking data Workout data All other HealthKit data points Environment: Device: Apple Watch Series 7 Initial failure: watchOS 26.0.2 (23R362) - stable release Current: watchOS 26.1 beta 2 (23S5052c) Paired iPhone: iPhone 17 Pro Max, iOS 26.1 beta 2 (23B5052c) Bluetooth and Wi-Fi connectivity: Normal Watch pairing status: Connected and functional for all other features Reproduction: Updated Apple Watch Series 7 from watchOS 18 to watchOS 26.0.2 on September 30, 2025 Health data sync ceased completely starting October 1, 2025 Issue persists after updating to watchOS 26.1 beta 2 and iOS 26.1 beta 2 Data remains stored locally on watch and is viewable in watch apps Apple Watch appears as connected data source in Health app but no data transfers Troubleshooting Performed: Multiple device restarts (both iPhone and Apple Watch) Bluetooth/Wi-Fi toggling and reconnection Verified Privacy > Motion & Fitness > Fitness Tracking and Health enabled on both devices Confirmed data source priority settings in Health app Extended charging periods to allow background sync operations Verified no Low Power Mode restrictions Impact: Critical functionality loss for primary Apple Watch use case. Unable to track longitudinal health data, breaking continuity of health records dating back to watchOS 18. Feedback Submitted: FB20533870 filed via Feedback Assistant with sysdiagnose from both devices Questions for Engineering: Is this a known regression in watchOS 26.0.2 or later builds? Are there any watchOS 26.1 beta release notes addressing HealthKit sync issues that I should review? Should I capture additional diagnostic data (e.g., specific console logs, HealthKit database states)? Is unpairing/re-pairing expected to resolve this, or would that indicate a deeper architectural issue? Additional Context: Apple Watch appears in Settings > Bluetooth as connected Can successfully change watch faces from iPhone Notifications, Messages, and calls work normally No previous sync issues prior to watchOS 26.0.2 Senior Apple Support advisor escalation completed; awaiting engineering review This appears to be a regression introduced in watchOS 26.0.2. Any guidance on additional diagnostics or confirmation of a fix in upcoming builds would be appreciated.
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185
Oct ’25
Feature Request – Real-time HealthKit Streaming API for Trusted CarPlay Partners (e.g., Mercedes-Benz ENERGIZING)
Current HealthKit APIs provide access to heart-rate data through queries, but not as a true real-time stream. This limitation prevents systems such as Mercedes-Benz ENERGIZING from dynamically adapting the vehicle environment — including light, sound, seat massage and climate — to the driver’s physiological state. The ENERGIZING Coach developed by Mercedes-Benz uses continuous biometric feedback to enhance comfort, focus and safety by adjusting sensory stimuli based on live pulse data. Garmin wearables can already support this because they offer open Bluetooth Low Energy protocols. The Apple Watch, on the other hand, stores heart-rate data securely in HealthKit and makes it available through delayed write intervals. As a result, the current query mechanisms such as HKAnchoredObjectQuery or HKObserverQuery deliver updates with a latency of several seconds to minutes, which is too slow for the type of sub-second reaction required by driver-assistance or wellness systems. I would like to propose that Apple consider creating a real-time HealthKit streaming entitlement for verified partners such as automotive manufacturers participating in the CarPlay ecosystem. This entitlement could be limited to specific biometric signals like heart rate, heart-rate variability and stress index, and should function only when the user explicitly opts in. The data could travel one way from the iPhone to the vehicle head unit during an active CarPlay session, remain local and encrypted, and never be stored in the cloud. A latency of around half a second would be ideal. Technically, this could follow an asynchronous delegate model similar to HKLiveWorkoutBuilder or a Combine publisher interface adapted for CarPlay Health sessions. A capability like this would extend Apple’s health ecosystem beyond the wrist into the driving environment, allowing cars to respond in real time to the physical state of their drivers. It would strengthen Apple’s commitment to both privacy and safety, while supporting automotive partners that focus on human-centered design. Imagine a driver whose heart rate drops below a vigilance threshold: the Apple Watch detects it instantly, CarPlay transmits the signal securely to the ENERGIZING system, and the vehicle gently adjusts lighting and seat vibration to restore alertness. This kind of integration fits perfectly with Apple’s long-term vision of “Health Everywhere” and would make a measurable contribution to road safety and driver well-being. I would be happy to provide a more detailed use-case document or to collaborate with the Health Technologies and Car Experience teams to outline how this integration could be implemented securely and efficiently.
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168
Oct ’25
Is there any way to access real-time sleep stage data from Apple Watch?
I'm trying to make a watchOS app that uses sleep data to wake users up when they enter lighter sleep stages. Apple has HealthKit, which exposes HKCategoryValueSleepAnalysis to view each stage throughout sleep, but unfortunately, this data is only written after the user wakes up. I did some research and found that the Apple Watch’s sleep classifier is part of Apple’s private system process, and apps can’t access that model directly or as it’s running. So, there’s no way to “record” my own data stream and match it with Apple’s classification during the night. Has anyone found a way to approximate or access live sleep-stage data in another way? I’m thinking of combining CoreMotion (for movement) and heart rate data from a HKWorkoutSession to infer stages myself, but I’m wondering if there’s any Apple-approved or more accurate approach for this. In other words, is there any way to use an Apple Watch to detect sleep stages accurately while the user is still asleep for the purpose of timing an optimal wake-up? Thanks
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Oct ’25